Why does Jesus challenge us to do the hard things of faith? Being a Christian in American culture is becoming increasingly more difficult. However, it’s okay to be on the wrong side of culture if you’re on the right side of God’s word. Living the life of flesh is choosing to do what we want to do and when we want to do it, which is easy. But choosing the life of the spirit is doing what God wants us to do in His timing, which is hard. When we choose to do the hard things, God will reveal His providence, blessing, and favor over us.
Easy Choices vs. Hard Choices
April 14, 2024 • Scott Stevens • Esther 2, Romans 8:5–6, Romans 8:11
8 Truths of Fasting
May 26, 2024 • Dave D'Angelo • Esther 7:10
Fasting provides spiritual nourishment from a heavenly source and gives us remarkable grace to handle whatever we face. Eating food we don’t know about means focusing on and living according to God's will and being nourished by His spirit. Hunger is a reminder of our need to be nourished. When hunger persists, it causes us to remember where real and lasting nourishment come from, which is God alone.
Promises of God
May 12, 2024 • John Reilly • Esther 6
In the book of Esther, we see how God turns ordinary moments into extraordinary ones, even when His hand is hard to see. While we may struggle to understand our own story, relying on God's promises gives us hope, patience, and steadfastness in uncertain times. Let's actively trust in these promises to be part of God's bigger narrative, even when it feels challenging.
The Destructive Power of Pride
May 5, 2024 • Dave D'Angelo • Esther 5
Do you believe God extends His grace even to those against us? Do you embrace justice and mercy as God does, or are you too focused on demanding justice for yourself? Through the lens of Haman’s pride, we see how it blinds us to God’s truth and perpetuates anger and hurt. Pride convinces us that joy and security lie in possessions and status, leading us to minimize our own faults while magnifying others’. God calls us to humble ourselves, plow the fields of our hearts, and open ourselves up to His word, seeking healing and transformation.